An Intelligent Reminder System Reduces Deficiencies and Errors in Ultrasound Reports

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound in medicine 2021-10, Vol.40 (10), p.2087-2094
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yan‐Fen, Li, Jian, Jin, Lin‐Yuan, Li, Fen‐Sui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: intelligent reminder system; quality control; reporting errors; ultrasound quality management; Visual Basic for Applications
• ISSN: 0278-4297; 1550-9613
• DOI: 10.1002/jum.15588

Objectives We designed a computer‐based, integrated intelligent reminder system to reduce the deficiencies and errors in ultrasound (US) reports. In this study, we assessed the performance of this system and evaluated its impact on the quality of US reporting. Methods Ultrasound reporting deficiencies or errors were divided into 2 categories: missing items (including outpatient or inpatient number and clinical diagnosis) and content errors (including measurement data, sex‐related, and laterality errors). The intelligent reminder system was designed in Visual Basic for Applications (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) and integrated with the US system. It automatically detects reporting errors before printing of the report and provides real‐time prompts for correction of the errors. We compared the US reporting deficiencies and errors during the 20 months before and after implementation of the system. Results Before implementation of the system, deficiencies/errors were detected in 2.26% (8841 of 391,230) of US reports compared with 0.12% (530 of 444,215) of reports after implementation of the system (P